Fansided

College Basketball Power Rankings: Week 18

By Nathaniel Reeves

Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason (0) celebrates after forcing a turnover during the second half of the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 25
Next
Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers players hoist the Missouri Valley champions trophy after defeating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Wichita State Shockers players hoist the Missouri Valley champions trophy after defeating the Illinois State Redbirds during the Championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Scottrade Center. Wichita State won 71-51. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
20

Wichita State Shockers

Last week: 27-4, 17-1 MVC
Last rank: 20

The Shockers are officially headed for their sixth straight NCAA Tournament after winning Sunday’s MVC Championship Game, and will once again be a team no opponent wants to see.

Wichita State had no trouble with Bradley on Friday night before pulling away against Missouri State the next night for a 78-63 semifinal win. Sunday’s performance was much more impressive, as the Shockers got revenge for a Jan. 14 loss at Illinois State by dominating the Redbirds in the second half of a 20-point title game victory.

While its current 15-game win streak has come largely against weak competition, Wichita State is destroying all opposition with none of those victories coming by fewer than 15 points. It wasn’t the most efficient offensive performance, but the Shockers did more than enough against the stingy Redbirds defense by shooting 7-of-16 from beyond the arc and turning the ball over at a rate of just 10.8 percent.

The Shockers are up to 10th overall in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency ratings and are one of just six teams with top 20 marks on both sides of the ball. Greg Marshall’s team always have strong defenses, and these Shockers shoot even better than the Ron Baker-Fred Van Vleet squad with the nation’s fifth-best 3-point field goal percentage.

Wichita State will have to wait a week to receive its NCAA Tournament seeding, which could rank anywhere in the 7-10 range.